SUBTITLING MUSICAL DOCUMENTARIES FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING IN ARABIC

Abstract

ABSTRACT This commentary thesis focuses on the subtitling for the deaf and hard of hearing (SDH) and accessibility of "Al compas," a 30-minute documentary film by The Lebanese director Ghinwa Daher about the lives of a flamenco guitarist from the occupied Golan Heights and a Palestinian Nay musician from a Lebanese refugee camp. Recognizing the film's rich cultural tales and the critical role of music in expressing themes of identity, perseverance, and cultural expression, this project focuses on the construction and analysis of English subtitles tailored specifically for Deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) audiences. The thesis describes the process used to translate the Arabic conversation, non-verbal elements, and render the key musical parts into comprehensive SDH, following established principles to assure accuracy, consistency, and ease of reading. The work justifies the specific subtitling choices made, particularly in representing the documentary's nuanced auditory landscape, including the application of SDH principles to make the music and overall narrative fully accessible to a larger, more inclusive audience.

Date of Award	2025
Original language	American English
Awarding Institution	HBKU College of Humanities and Social Science